The Light of Christ Surrounds Us

The stained glass windows in the Choir Chapel at Mount St. Scholastica depict scenes from the life and teachings of St. Benedict, and it’s been instructive to watch the rising sun gradually illuminate the images at morning prayer the past several days. I’ve noticed that the yellow and gold of the halo around the head of St. Benedict is the first thing in the windows to catch the light, which isn’t really surprising, because holiness/wholeness is illuminating.

In the window across from my choir stall, three lambs rest upon on the shoulder of St. Benedict, and the face of one of them is contained within St. Benedict’s halo. The artist who created this window seems to be saying that wholeness and holiness is contagious—we can bring the light of Christ to others when we amplify it in ourselves through our faithfulness to prayer, service, and love of God.

Throughout his life, people were drawn to Jesus because of his compassion, single-hearted love of God and neighbor, and wisdom. His goodness and holiness could not be dimmed, even when he was nailed to a tree; even then he forgave his executioners and comforted the thief hanging next to him. The tomb could not contain his spirit either, as his disciples discovered on the day of his resurrection.

At the Easter vigil, as our dark chapel is filled with the light of candles, we sing The Light of Christ by Marty Haugen, which includes these lyrics: “The light of Christ surrounds us / The love of Christ enfolds us / The power of Christ protects us / The presence of Christ watches over us.” The light of Christ forever surrounds us, and like St. Benedict, our desire to reflect that light can illumine God’s love for others.